Before I show myself out, a couple quick notes, the first being that I don’t think the show’s gone down in quality. I think it’s different — more disjointed, less interested in the rhythms of true crime than in city living and the connections among its characters. This isn’t per se a problem, but as an insightful commenter at Episodic Medium noted recently (forgive me, wise one, and if you’re here too, take credit!), it seems to want to be a hang-out comedy, not a plot-driven parody of a genre.
It’s still commenting fairly acidly on said genre with the latest twist, but I also think it’s a show that, in my household at least, works better when watched in chunks or straight through. DPB and I have felt…bemused, I guess, through a lot of the second season, because we watch it once a week and as a result we really feel the silo-ing of various characters (or, to put it less charitably, the show forgetting/not knowing what to do with/realizing it can’t afford the actors who play them). Last night, we watched the latest two back-to-back; we still had issues, economy-of-characters-wise, and I still don’t care for how the show did Oscar if it wasn’t going to avail itself fully of Cara Delevingne’s Alice — but when you’re immersed in OMITB’s world for more than 30 minutes, that world coheres better, at least for us.
It’s still such a pleasure to look at, to watch titans working together (Shirley MacLaine’s touch is just right), to see the production making a little why-not room for a New York City cast to sing in the dark. But maybe the show needs to slip the surly bonds of satire, give Da’Vine Joy Randolph her own Maternity Leave, She Wrote spin-off, and just be a hang-out comedy. What do you think?— SDB
It definitely feels like it's gotten more 'cartoonish' for want of a better word. Not that season 1 was realistic, but this time around there's a LOT of wacky stuff happening (secret passageways, foul-mouthed parrots etc.) that means that when the more serious/dramatic story beats hit I don't know how to feel about them. The cast all look like they're having fun, but I think that might be at the expense of much of the impact that the story might otherwise have had. I guess there is limited value to be derived from satirising something fairly niche like true crime podcasts and so, as you say, they are trying to see what else they can do with these characters and this world... I will stick it out for the finale, but not sure I would come back for season 3 (if there is one).
Aug 17, 2022·edited Aug 17, 2022Liked by Best Evidence
I haven't watched it yet, despite having loved season 1. I am a very "seasonal" person when it comes to tv shows and movies (books too), and for some reason, the middle of summertime is not when I want to watch shows like this. Season 1 dropped right before Labor Day, if I am remembering correctly, and that felt like the perfect time for it. So I will probably be a weirdo and watch it this Labor Day weekend, too.
I'm not enjoying this season quite as much as the first one, although my main concern stems from all the plot points (the painting, Charles' father, Alice and whatever she was doing that I still don't understand, etc) that have seemingly been dropped. I keep thinking that they have a LOT of loose ends to tie up in the 2 remaining episodes, and I'm concerned that some will be left hanging.
Aug 24, 2022·edited Aug 24, 2022Liked by Best Evidence
I just finished the season and it’s not as tight as season 1. I liked it and I get why they wanted to give the other residents of the apartment building more depth, but I think it detracted from the flow of the season overall.
It definitely feels like it's gotten more 'cartoonish' for want of a better word. Not that season 1 was realistic, but this time around there's a LOT of wacky stuff happening (secret passageways, foul-mouthed parrots etc.) that means that when the more serious/dramatic story beats hit I don't know how to feel about them. The cast all look like they're having fun, but I think that might be at the expense of much of the impact that the story might otherwise have had. I guess there is limited value to be derived from satirising something fairly niche like true crime podcasts and so, as you say, they are trying to see what else they can do with these characters and this world... I will stick it out for the finale, but not sure I would come back for season 3 (if there is one).
I haven't watched it yet, despite having loved season 1. I am a very "seasonal" person when it comes to tv shows and movies (books too), and for some reason, the middle of summertime is not when I want to watch shows like this. Season 1 dropped right before Labor Day, if I am remembering correctly, and that felt like the perfect time for it. So I will probably be a weirdo and watch it this Labor Day weekend, too.
I'm waiting to binge the whole thing (that's just my thing -- I have Hulu regardless).
Looking forward to the new season once I finish my binge rewatch of the L Word. If you haven’t, you should. If it’s been awhile, even better.
I'm not enjoying this season quite as much as the first one, although my main concern stems from all the plot points (the painting, Charles' father, Alice and whatever she was doing that I still don't understand, etc) that have seemingly been dropped. I keep thinking that they have a LOT of loose ends to tie up in the 2 remaining episodes, and I'm concerned that some will be left hanging.
I just finished the season and it’s not as tight as season 1. I liked it and I get why they wanted to give the other residents of the apartment building more depth, but I think it detracted from the flow of the season overall.